Mechanisms of toxic metal tolerance in yeast

Abstract

Toxic metals are an integral part of our environment and all organisms possess systems to evade toxicity and acquire tolerance. Studies in yeast have revealed a number of important tolerance systems encompassing metal uptake and export pathways, metal binding and sequestration systems as well as the regulatory mechanisms that the cell utilizes to control these systems. The study of the physiological, molecular, and genetic details of the function of these systems has significantly contributed to our understanding of toxic metal tolerance acquisition. This review will focus on tolerance mechanisms to toxic metals including cadmium, arsenic, antimony, mercury, and selenium in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae (bakers' yeast) and other fungi. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.